Rim for automobile wheels



Dec, 21 1926.

R. J. REANEY RIM FOR AUTOMOBILE WHEELS Filed Jan. 28, 1925 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Russell :LReaney k 41M! -62mm m5 ATTORNEY 1 Dec.21,1926. 1,611,319

, R. J. REANEY RIM FOR AUTOMOBILE WHEELS INVENTo Rvss e22 J-R eaney.

' wa/wm haw 4 HIS ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 21,1926.

tiis a RUSSELL J. REANEY,'OFOTTAWA. ONTARIO, CANADA, ASSIGNOR TO R ANEYLIMITED,

or OTTAWA, CANADA.

environ AUTOMOBILE WHEELS.

Application filed Tanuary 28, 1925.. Serial No. 5,405.

This present invention relates to improvements in rims for automobilewheels and appertains particularly to one that is adjustable radially tohold or loosen the'tiref An object is to provide an easier and simplermeans of applying and removingautow mobile tires.

A further object is to provide an improved wheel requiring no removableparts to become damaged or lost when changing tires.

A still further object is to provide such a device wherein the parts:are few, the con struction simple and being capable of manufacture at areasonable cost is thus rendered commercially desirable To theaccomplishment of these and related objects my invention resides in theformation, combination and arrangement of parts as shall be hereinaftermorefully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings andpointed out in the claims hereunto appendet. V I

To more fully illustrate the herein disclosed invention I appenddrawings wherein Fig. 1 is a vertical section of-my improved wheel; and

Figs. 2 and 3 are fragmentary transverse sections as on lineS'Z-Q'aiid 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Changing tires has always presented a question to the motorist and theautomobile manufacturer and is a'problem that liasbe 7 come continuallymore acute i increasing daily since the advent of women'drivers.

The proposition thus offered has not been met by demoui'itable rims andthe demand for improvement is more insistent than ever.

To alleviate this difficulty, I provide a wheel having a trough-likefelloe in which a radially expandible rim is received. This rim is inoverlapping sections and while held against lateral displacement by thewallsof the felloe trough, is supported by spokes whose inner rackedends mesh with a gear axle-carried sleeve. Rotation of the said sleevewith respect to the wheel extends or retracts the rim mounted spokes andexpands or contracts the rim. To apply a tire the rim is contracted tothe fullest extent allow-' ing of the placement of the tire when thegear hub or sleeve is manually rotated ex a wheel having a hub 5, spokes6 throughout the several views, 4; designates 7,'the latter beingtrough-like in cross-section having side walls 8. A tire carrying rim 9concentric with said felloe 7 is held against lateral displacement bythe. walls thereof and is formed in segments 9 9 9 and 9,

with overlapping ends 10, that are adjustable radially.

The wlieel t is appliedto the axle in the usual way'but' a' rotatabletoothed sleeve .11

surrounds the bearings and projects outwardly in the form' of anintegral hub cap receiv ng flange 12 on the outer end of which the cap13 maybe threadedly applied. iAi-ms '14 extending inwardly from thecentre of each rim segment have racked inner ends 15 meshingtangentially withthe toothed sleeve 11 and are well bearinged' in theyfelloe 7 and wheel hub 5. If desired these radially movable arms may be"housed within the spokes 6 thus hiding them from View, guarding themfrom damage and supporting them throughout practically their wholelength.

A fork' 16, the stern it of which projects radially from the wheel hub 5straddles one of the racks 15 andis urged by a spring. 18 to seatnormally in said gear sleeve thereby positively locking the latter aganst rotation with respect to the wheel 4. r

In use, the stem 17 of the fork lock 16 is drawn outwardly, thesectional rim 9 is contracted by the rotation of the hub cap 12 by aconventional hub cap wrench, thus rotating the gear sleeve 11 thatretracts the racked rim section arms 14. Following the application ofthe tire. the rim 9 is expanded by the reverse rotation of the hub capand gear and the fork lock 16 again seats in the gear 11 effectivelylocking the said gear and the wheel against relative rotatire' movement.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, it will be apparent that a rim for auto: mobile wheels isprovided which will fulfill all thenecessary requirements'of such adevice, but as many changes could be made in the above description andmanyapparently widely different embodiments of my and a felloe (iii like

invention constructed within tlie scopeof the appended claims withoutdeparting from the spiritor' scope thereof, it is iiiiiu red fromlateral tended that allanatters containedin the said accompanyingspecification and drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and notina limited-sense; V

Whatl claim as new is 1. In combination with a U-shaped felfloe, aradially 'expandible rimcomposed of sections. 7 v i 2. In combinationwith a U-shaped telloe, a concentric, sectional rim, expandible radiallytherein. 1

V 3.1 In combination with a U,-shaped felloe,

a sectionalrini held against lateraldisplacement thereby: and means forrad ally 6X- iandin said rim; y D

ll; In combinationwvith a; wheel having a hub, spokes and uashapedQfelloe, a, sectional rim concentric with sa1d felloe andpreventdisplacement thereby, and inwardly directed arms for. supportingsaid rim. l e I 5. In combination with, a. wheel having a hub,rspokesandU-shapedi'elloe arim coin- .posed of radial expansible segmentsiconcentriewith said felloe, and armsfor. supporting said rinrextending. inwardlyv fron i eachiof said segments, V.

An axial "rotatable gear, racked arm s tangentially meshing therewithand a sectional rim concentric with said felloe and prevented fromlateral displacement thereby supp d y a d arms! neetsg I V ISLTheconibinatmn witha wheeli having I 7. Thev combination: withfa,wheel; having a hub, spokes and a U shapedfelloe,,of, an

gear, radially extendible armswith racked; inner ends meshingtangentially with said gear and-a concentric rimjformed otoverlappngsectmns held, from lateral displacementfby the walls, of, saidfelloe,. with thefcentle of each or which sections one of'sald radiallyextendible "armscon- 7 said wheel,

a hub; spokesand a Ueshaped' felloe, of an EtXlEll' gear, ahuh capmounted thereon, means tor locking sa1d gear against rotation withrespect to said wheel, radially eX-' tendihlearms with racked inner endsmesh:

'ing tangentially with said gear and a 0011-v 50' centric-rim formed ofoverlapping sections held from lateral displacement by the walls of saidfelloe, with the centre of each of V which sections one of said'radiallyextendible arms connects.

9. The combination with" a. wheel having f a hub, spokes and a U-shapedfelloe, ofan axial gear, a hub cap threaded thereto, a spring depressednianually releasable lock for holding said gear againstrotation withrespect to said wheel, radially extendilole arms with racked inner endsfneshing tangentially with from lateral displacement by the walls of said'l'elloe, with the centre or each of which sections one of said radiallyextendihle arms connects placement byjthfle walls of said fello'e, and

si pports for saidfisections formed integral 7 said gear and aconcentric 'rnn formed of overlapping sections held said huh-,a huh capthreadedithereto, a retherewith and extending inwardly fromc'en- 'trallythereof, tangentially meshing with said gear being reciprocal radiallyon the v rotation thereof, substantially, as

signatnre."

RUSSELL J; 11 mm:

, described, In testimony. whereof-1T hereunto my

